Kansas Municipal News
Atchison Public Schools preparing anew for future vision.
The USD 409 Phoenix mascot from this point on has a new look to call its own. Board members unanimously approved the re-branding of the image as part of the business at their meeting Monday. The action came after District Activities Director Tyler Lueckenhoff delivered some clarification. The proposed Phoenix image designed by Christa Reiger, of Storyweaver Studio, was introduced at the previous meeting as mainly composed in a scheme of four primary colors: red, gold, white, and black. Lueckenhoff said the Mascot colors remain the same as throughout school history red and gold. The white and black colors are utilized to highlight accents for some details like outlines and backgrounds. “It is Red and Gold all the way,” Lueckenhoff said. He explained the four separated feathers cut in the wings each represent the different USD 409 schools. The schools are Atchison High School, Atchison Middle School, Central School, and Atchison Elementary School. Dr. Renee Nugent, superintendent of schools, said there has been some concern if there will be changes to the letter “A” on the letter jackets. “The letter A remains the same,” Nugent said of the sports/activities status symbol. “Letter jackets are a staple.” Board members viewed a video produced by Robert Neidinger’s Video Production student Mr. Purdy showing some history of mascots and evolution toward the current re-branding of the Phoenix mascot.
Source: News | atchisonglobenow.com
Joe Waters, longtime county leader, to retire next week
Joe Waters, long-time Johnson County administrator, will retire next Friday after decades of service to the community. He is currently the assistant county manager, serving in that position for the past 10 years. “It has been my honor and privilege to spend most of my career in this outstanding organization that epitomizes excellence in public service and commitment to community,” Waters said in an emailed statement. His final day on the job is Dec. 22. Waters, an architect, started his career in consulting and facilities management. A University of Kansas grad, he would go on to work as an architect and assistant director in the facilities planning office at his alma mater. Waters served as a Johnson County bureau chief, then director of facilities for nearly 20 years. In all, he’s worked for the Johnson County government for almost 30 years. During his tenure, Johnson County built more than 20 new buildings and remodeled a total of 21 buildings. As assistant county manager, he also oversaw central county services, the county courts and the elections office. In a news release, County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson described Waters as “humble” and “thoughtful,” noting that he “cares for our community and employees.”
Source: Shawnee Mission Post
New Beloit City Manager Announced
Mayor Tom Naasz and the Beloit City Council report that Halley Roberson is their approved candidate to be Beloit’s next City Manager. At its regular meeting on December 6, the City Council unanimously voted to move forward with finalizing Roberson’s employment agreement. “Ms. Roberson will arrive in Beloit with a proven municipal track record in overseeing construction of vital infrastructure projects,” said Mayor Naasz. “Her leadership skills and public service align seamlessly with our community goals. Our city is poised for sustainable growth under her guidance. ”Roberson’s diverse experience spans more than 20 years in local, state, and federal government management and nonprofit sector leadership. She leaves her position as Oberlin City Manager after serving more than six years. During her tenure, she led the construction of a new power plant and power line upgrades. She is credited with many other infrastructure and technology improvements, all accomplished without raising property taxes or utility rates. Her Oberlin tenure is also noteworthy for the many grants she obtained for community and economic development.
Source: Sunflower State Radio
KDOT superintendent becomes Abilene’s public works director
Abilene’s Brad Anderson will be the city of Abilene’s Public Works Department director. Anderson was previously a Kansas Department of Transportation area superintendent. He began his new job Dec. 4. “I just want everyone to know that KDOT’s been good to me, and it was a great opportunity and all that,” Anderson said. “I am kind of excited to get involved with the city and glad to have the opportunity. Glad they thought a lot about me to give me the opportunity.” Anderson said the director position allows him to work closer to his community and home south of Abilene. His current position requires him to drive to Clay Center and around north central Kansas. “When the position became available, it was something I thought about, and ultimately decided I’d look into. I’m grateful that I’ve been given this opportunity and was chosen as the new public works director here in my hometown of Abilene.” Anderson said. “I feel I can continue to use my knowledge in leadership, job activities and contract projects that the city of Abilene has upcoming.” Anderson said he has worked for KDOT for 23 years total.
Source: Abilene-RC
Choose Saline County rewards app supports local businesses
Since its launch in 2022, around 3,000 Saline County residents and visitors have been rewarded with and redeemed more than $150,000 to spend in local businesses thanks to the Choose Saline County app. Saline County decided to take part in the rewards program, developed by Colu, after a survey of residents indicated that supporting local business recovery was a top priority as the county used federal funding in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is being used for the program. “We wanted to do something more substantial, more meaningful and something that really changes our behavior,” said Melissa McCoy, public information officer for Saline County. McCoy said after officials rightfully encouraged people to stay home as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID, this led to many habits being formed, especially when it came to shopping, with many people browsing, buying and having items shipped from online retailers rather than from locally-owned options.
Source: News – Salina Journal
Municipal Bond Trends for December 14, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Municipal Bond Trends for December 13, 2023
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Wichita police, sheriff’s office now will investigate each other’s officer-involved shootings
The Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will start investigating each other’s officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths and other critical incidents, officials said Wednesday. Sheriff Jeff Easter said Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett had pushed for this to happen since he was elected in 2012, when Easter was first elected as well. “The Wichita Police Department took a look at this concept and for whatever reason it just didn’t work out during those times,” Easter said. “Chief (Joe) Sullivan came here, we had a discussion about it and were both in agreement that it would be best for this community because this community has been asking for a change in how we investigate these.” Sullivan took over the department in November 2022. Sullivan said now “when an officer or deputy is involved in a critical incident, we have protocols in place to conduct an independent and transparent investigation.” Previously, the Wichita Police Department and the sheriff’s office would investigate each other’s officers only in cases that were potentially criminal. This new agreement will keep that, while adding the officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
Fed holds rates steady, indicates three cuts coming in 2024
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held its key interest rate steady for the third straight time and set the table for multiple cuts to come in 2024 and beyond. With the inflation rate easing and the economy holding in, policymakers on the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to keep the benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a targeted range between 5.25%-5.5%. Along with the decision to stay on hold, committee members penciled in at least three rate cuts in 2024, assuming quarter percentage point increments. That’s less than market pricing of four, but more aggressive than what officials had previously indicated.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Lawsuit against City of Lawrence asks for court order to disband camps for people experiencing homelessness
Several business owners have filed a lawsuit against the City of Lawrence, asking the court to order the city to close and disband two camp areas where people experiencing homelessness are living. The lawsuit asks the court to address public health and safety concerns that plaintiffs attribute to the city’s handling of the local homelessness crisis. Specifically, the lawsuit mentions the city-sanctioned camp behind Johnny’s Tavern in North Lawrence — which the city has dubbed Camp New Beginnings — and other camp areas on the river levee, as well as the camp in the area of Seventh and New York streets near the Amtrak depot in East Lawrence. The complaint asks the court to declare that both of those camp areas as public and private nuisances, and that the city’s “allowance, maintenance, and encouragement” of the camps is beyond its legal authority and a breach of its duty. “The proliferation of the Encampments has endangered all people’s health and safety, and is inflicting damage not just on property owners, but also on those who are least able to afford legal counsel to vindicate the harm being inflicted by the City — the innocent involuntarily unhoused. The community cannot stand idly by while lawless zones that promote crime erode the well-being of the community,” the lawsuit states. The 36-page complaint, signed by attorney Todd Thompson of Lawrence law firm 333 Legal, is followed by 47 pages of exhibits — photos of campsites, people holding signs asking for money and more. The lawsuit includes 26 plaintiffs, half individual people and half businesses. “Plaintiffs are Lawrence residents, property owners, and business owners, who live, work, and/or own property in the lower-income neighborhoods of North Lawrence and East Lawrence where the City has allowed, encouraged, and assisted people to set up camps,” the complaint states. The first plaintiffs named in the lawsuit are Johnny’s North Lawrence Inc. and owner Rick Renfro. Renfro wrote in a letter he emailed to the publication along with the complaint Tuesday morning that the city has made it extremely difficult for him to protect his staff and to provide a safe, enjoyable environment for customers. “This lawsuit was not my first choice, or my second, or third. But the city has allowed vagrants from other cities to set up their own camps around the New Beginnings camp, and all along the river,” Renfro wrote. “The city provides them with water, food, tents and restrooms. The city has created, maintained and enabled a nuisance.” Under city ordinances, camping is not allowed in most locations. Before June 2020, it was illegal for people to camp on any public right-of-way area. But amid the COVID-19 pandemic, city commissioners made efforts to decriminalize homelessness by adopting an exemption to the ordinance that prohibited nightly camping (Ord. 9754). The exemption made it legal for people to camp on city property zoned in the downtown commercial district (CD) when shelters were at full capacity.
Source: The Lawrence Times
Assistant County Manager Joe Waters to celebrate retirement after nearly 30 years of service to Johnson County
Joe Waters, assistant county manager for Johnson County Government, will retire after nearly 30 years of service. He will be honored at a retirement reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Jury Room of the Johnson County Courthouse, 150 W. Santa Fe, Olathe. Waters’ last day with Johnson County will be Dec. 22, 2023. Members of the public are invited to join in the celebration of decades of service to Johnson County residents. Since 1990, Waters has leveraged his degree in architecture to help to lead facilities projects. As director of facilities for the county, bureau chief and his current role as assistant county manager, he has been involved in 21 brand-new buildings, purchasing and remodeling nine buildings and remodeling or expanding another 12 facilities. What’s harder to quantify is Waters’ influence on those facilities and programs. His job, as he defines it, was to make sure facilities being planned and built reflected the current and future needs of the community and the departments and agencies that would occupy them. Those plans also put Johnson County on the forefront of sustainability. The Sunset Drive Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe, achieved LEED Gold certification in 2006, just the second such achievement in the Midwest. Many county projects that followed were either designed to LEED standards or LEED certified, a mark of building healthy, efficient and cost-saving buildings that limit the impact on natural resources and the environment. In addition to facilities, Waters has led many other county operations over the years, including central services, the elections office and the courts. He acted as liaison to the Johnson County Library and Johnson County Park and Recreation boards. His influence is reflected not only in the county’s built environment but in community programs and services as well. “Joe is thoughtful and purposeful with keen insight on how to make our community greater and more beautiful than it was before,” said County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson. “Johnson County is a better place to live because of his efforts. Joe has been instrumental in helping me lead the county for years. He is humble, thoughtful, a problem solver and cares for our community and employees. He will be missed, and his legacy beyond buildings is all those he coached, mentored and encouraged along the way.”
Source: Johnson County Kansas |
Heartland Flyer extension clears major hurdle
The train keeps rolling forward. Laura Kelly announced that the Heartland Flyer project, which would connect Amtrak service from Oklahoma City to Newton, has been awarded a $500,000 federal grant aimed at developing passenger rail lines. The grant pays for the development of a service plan for the connection of the Southwest Chief and Heartland Flyer lines.
More importantly, however, it represents an important selection hurdle cleared in a larger competitive grant process for federal infrastructure funds to develop passenger rail service lines. “It is a very big deal,” State Senator Carolyn McGinn said. McGinn has long advocated for passenger rail and helped craft state transportation plans supporting the funding of passenger rail. “I’ve been working on this for over 12 years,” she said. “I was very delighted. What it says is we’re going to have forward movement. Now we’re being looked at even closer.” The funding pays for the development of a service plan for the route, something that Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas have already begun work on. Following service and engineering plans, participating states in this project—Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas—would provide a 20 percent match to federal funds to pay for upgrades to extend the route. The funding for a possible extension was made possible by a 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure upgrade package. “I don’t think it’s a done deal,” Newton City Commissioner Rod Kreie said of the possibility of the Heartland Flier project, “But certainly when they’re going to give us money to do the studies we need to do, we know we were pretty high on the list, because we were part of the first groups to get funded with this pre-project money to do the studies that they’re wanting done.” He said that the project would allow residents to ride the train through various southern routes in the United States.
Source: Harvey County Now
Courts: Kansas Star Casino owed over $19 million
Sumner County and the City of Mulvane are paying back millions to the company that runs the Kansas Star Casino. The county and casino have been in court for years over how the casino is taxed. Boyd Gaming, which runs the casino, protested how much property tax it has to pay. The courts now say Boyd Gaming is owed more than $19 million in payments over tax disputes going back years. The City of Mulvane, the school district, and Sumner County have to pay that money back. “It’s a positive in that we know what to expect. Instead of waiting for a judgment to come out, we know what we’re paying. We know for the next five years we know our valuation is going to be correct,” said Austin St. John, Mulvane City Manager. The last tax assessment by Sumner County said casino property should be taxed at a value of roughly $190 million. After Boyd Gaming appealed, the courts said it was valued at roughly $85.5 million. Mulvane raised its mill levy in 2022 by another eight mills in anticipation of the settlement to pay back the casino.
Source: KSN-TV
How do you attract people and businesses to rural Kansas? Communities are trying AI
AI is doing everything from making art to writing computer software, and now community leaders in western Kansas are hoping it can help them crack the code for bringing people and businesses to their areas. The rural communities are turning to AI to identify the businesses, services and housing residents need. That helps them target the types of businesses they should work to attract and where housing is needed to buck long-term trends of rural population loss. It’s an intriguing idea to Shandon Classen. He sips coffee in the corner booth of his coffee shop in downtown Liberal, Kansas. He opened it last year. It’s the only locally owned coffee shop in town, but business has been difficult to maintain. Using AI-powered foot traffic software, officials in Seward, Finney and Ford counties now can track when people come to town and where they shop through anonymous cell phone data That gives them a better idea how to help their own business owners and towns. Businesses like his will soon have access to the tool. “If AI could tell us about our demographics, if it could help us know what people want, that would be a huge help,” Classen said. The goal is finding out what people in a western Kansas town need. Just down the road in Liberal, Mario Loredo is the type of person communities are hoping to learn about. He said his parents own a restaurant and frequently travel over 50 miles to Garden City to shop. “They have to go to Garden, to Sam’s Club because they have to buy a lot of stuff in bulk,” Loredo said. “It’s just stuff you can’t find here.” Loredo is one of many residents who travel to Garden City, the retail center in southwest Kansas. Garden City has seen more success in economic development than neighboring towns, but the hope is the community will continue expanding. Lona Duvall is president of economic development for Finney County, home of Garden City. People like her have been trying to track out-of-town retail shoppers for years, but it hasn’t been easy. They only have a small staff and they’d have to physically look at license plates in shopping centers. “We counted 12 from New Mexico and 15 from Colorado, or whatever the case may be,” Duvall said. This is where AI comes in. Finney County is one of several in western Kansas that purchased a tool called Placer AI. It tracks where people travel through anonymized cell phone data. That data helps them determine why people are coming to town or leaving town. Where they’re shopping and what they need. Then they can use that data to determine what businesses they should try to attract to keep people in the community.
Source: KCUR News
El Dorado announces Assistant City Manager
The City of El Dorado announced the promotion of Tabitha Sharp to Assistant City Manager in November. Sharp has worked for the City of El Dorado since 2009 when she took the position of Intern to the City Manager. She was promoted to City Clerk in April of 2010. Since then, she has fulfilled not only the clerk functions, but also oversaw the Human Resources, Payroll, Tourism and Public Information departments. In 2022, she was promoted to Administration Director for the City. After advertising the new position of Assistant City Manager and doing interviews, Sharp was selected as the best candidate for this position. “Tabitha has demonstrated increasing responsibility within the organization, especially over the last few years while she served as City Clerk and most recently as the Administration Director,” said City Manager David Dillner. Sharp will take on more management responsibilities to assist the City Manager with general oversight of the municipal organization. Her position will continue to oversee Experience El Dorado, Human Resources, Finance, and Public Information functions, although several of the responsibilities currently assigned to her are anticipated to be delegated as a way of providing employees with increasing opportunities. In her new role, Sharp will also have the duties and responsibilities of Finance Director. She will assist the City Manager in overseeing and managing strategic initiatives and will have an increasing role in special projects and assignments. She will also serve in the absence of the City Manager when he is away from the office for an extended period. “I look forward to seeing where this new role for Tabitha will take the city in the future,” Dillner said. “She has a lot of offer the City of El Dorado and this new role will help utilize all of her talents and experience.”
Source: Andover American
Wichita Public Library holds vote for new library card design
The Wichita Public Library would like people to vote on a new design for their library cards. There are three categories, kid, teen and adult, with three designs to choose from in each. The categories break down into kid, teen and adult. The most popular card in each category will be the winner which will be announced in January. Once the winners have been announced, current customers will be able to trade in their old library card for one of the new designs for $2. To vote on which designs you would like the new cards to be, click the link in the source story.
Source: KAKE – News
Shop with a Wichita Cop brings smiles to two little girls who lost their father last year
Tuesday it was time for kids to do a little early Christmas shopping with some folks in blue. Also known as ‘Shop with a Cop.’ We went along as the kids got the chance to make their holiday dreams come true. Jaxyn and her sister Willa got a big treat shopping with a Wichita Police Officer and picking out anything they wanted for a grand total of $100 each. This is the second year the Wichita Police Department had teamed up with Walmart for Shop with a Cop. Children are identified through WPD Random Acts of Kindness submissions. Jaxyn, her sister Willa, and their mom have been trying to deal with a big loss in their family. “We lost my husband last year. So there’s been a lot of changes in our lives and I didn’t realize there were programs out here like this. A lot of changes from a two-parent household to just one. And I am the only one bringing in any money. They don’t typically get pick out for things themselves. Typically we have to budget pretty strictly,” said Jordan Minnis-Forck. Minnis-Forck says she couldn’t believe it when she found out her daughters were picked. “When I got the call to be part of it, honestly I cried for a good while,” said Minnis-Forck. So what did Jaxyn get? “I got a backpack that’s like, makeup in it. And I have a little school set and a little dress. And I have a little doll,” said Jaxyn Forck. A happy night for Jaxyn and more than a dozen other kids like her.
Source: KAKE – News
Potential sites for Sedgwick County psychiatric hospital have been reduced to four
The state of Kansas is about to make big changes to its mental healthcare system, with a new psychiatric hospital located in Sedgwick County. “We see the mental health crisis that’s occurring, we see the homeless crisis that’s occurring, we see it in our front yard, we see it out our back door,” says Historic Midtown Society President Makayla Welch. “So we had a vested interest in where they were planning on putting this hospital that is desperately needed.” Scott Brunner with the state’s Department of Aging and Disability Services unveiled the possible locations at a public meeting in Wichita on Tuesday. “We want to be sure that we provide information about what the project looks like, who the patients are going to be, how people get there, the project funding and the county and state involvement just so they have a good picture of the project,” Brunner said. “So they can make a judgment about those locations.” Of the four locations, the one located on Central and McLean in Wichita, would be the only one utilizing an existing building. Brunner said that there are benefits to both building a new facility, and using the former Riverside Hospital. “If you build the new building, we can corporate newer technology designed factors around natural light and open spaces, good sight lines for our nurses and clinical staff to be able to be safe and, and patients be safe as well in the environment,” Brunner said. “If you go into an existing building, or where there’s already a structure and walls, you’ve got to start figuring out how those things all fit together. And it does make some accommodations about sightlines and number of patients per wings and units.” Welch said that she’s happy this issue of mental health in Wichita is finally being addressed.
Source: KAKE – News
Garden City to break ground on new Fire/EMS station
A new station for the Garden City Fire Department and emergency services is coming soon. Garden City will be breaking ground on the new fire station on Dec. 19. It will be at East Schulman Avenue and North Jennie Barker Road. “This significant event marks a milestone in our community’s commitment to public safety and emergency services,” The Garden City Fire Department said in a news release. When finished, the station will be able to house up to 10 firefighters and six EMS personnel. GCFD said it will serve as a vital hub strategically positioned to respond swiftly to emergencies, ensuring residents’ safety and property protection.
Source: KSN-TV
Wichita to begin anti-violence program
Wichita City Council members have voted to approve an agreement with three agencies to begin the implementation of a violence prevention program in two areas of the city. The city began working with Chicago-based Cure Violence Global in 2022 to develop a violence interrupter program. The purpose is to detect and prevent potentially violent events, provide for behavior change and support to the highest-risk individuals, and change community norms that allow and encourage incidents in chronically violent neighborhoods. The program in Wichita will be focused on socially and economically stressed neighborhoods that have had high rates of gun violence. The city is contracting with the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute in a partnership with Destination Innovation and the Institute of Development. The program will target an area in north Wichita between I-135 and Oliver, from 9th Street to 25th Street. The program will also be put in place in an area of south Wichita, between Broadway and Oliver from Pawnee to Galena and Wassall. Rebecca Johnson with the city manager’s office said the program will begin recruiting and hiring in January with staff training in February. The city is allocating $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the program, which will be directed at the highest-risk youth. City Council member Bryan Frye is urging the community to support this program and “help us get ahead of this, because it’s not getting better.” He said this should be part of the solution, and “we need you to be our eyes and ears as much as we need these violence interrupters.”
Source: 101.3 KFDI